Lagos – The Lagos State Taskforce has warned people who patronize commercial motorcycles banned in some parts of the state to desist as caught passengers risk three months imprisonment.
The Chairman of the agency, CSP Shola Jejeloye gave the warning during the numerous raids carried out this week in various parts of the State in order to enforce and maintain the ban on the activities of commercial motorcycles plying major highways across the State.
Th renewed efforts was aimed to rid Lagos of commercial motorcycles especially in the areas where there operations are banned.
The directive affects six Local Governments Areas and nine Local Council Development Areas.
In a statement signed by Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, the Director, Press & Public Affairs of the agency said the enforcement exercises which were spear headed by CSP Jejeloye took place in Agege/Fagba, Apapa and Ajah where pockets of activities relating to the operations of okada had been seen and brought to the notice of the Agency which prompted the raids.
According to him, the Agency’s Chairman described the activities of “these recalcitrant okada operators as rebellious and vowed to ensure that every single one of them, though few, would have their bikes confiscated and crushed by the State Government if they fail to adhere to the ban on their operations.”
He added that the operatives have carried out marathon raids across the State because sightings have been made of pockets of okada operations in some of these areas visited.
Jejeloye further stated that a total number of 322 bikes have been seized since the commencement of the week long raid in the aforementioned areas of the State and assured the citizenry that more will be done till the State’s Vision of maintaining safety and sanity on our roads is completely achieved.
The statement read further, “CSP Jejeloye reminded Lagosians who may still be in the habit of patronising okada operators to desist forthwith in order not to be arrested and prosecuted”.
“Both passengers and riders are culpable if found operating on restricted routes that have been banned by the State Government and both face a penalty of either three months jail term, N50,000 fine by the court, or both if found guilty”, it added.
